Apparatus for pressing and stacking packages of plywood and the like



March 16, 1954 R, Q DEMLER 2,671,998

. APPARATUS FOR PRESSING ANDSTACKING PACKAGES OF PLYWOOD AND THE LIKE Filed June 9, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VEN TOR RAY c. DEMLER MAD Z QAM ATTORNEYS March 195.4 R. c. DEMLER 2,671,998

7 APPARATUS FOR PRESSING AND STACKING PACKAGES OF PLYWOOD AND THE LIKE Filed June 9, 1952 A 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT-OR. RAY c. DEMLER ATTORNEYS A V NN llllll A T WW$W WMHA A- March 16, 1954 R. c. DEMLER APPARATUS FOR PRESSING AND STA CKING Filed Jun 9, 1952 PACKAGES OF PLYWOOD AND THE LIKE 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR -L E 5K. EL

Cum

March 16, 1954 R. c. DEMLER 2,671.998

APPARATUS FOR PRESSING AND STACKING PACKAGES OF PLYWOOD AND THE LIKE Filed June 9, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 H INVENTOR .RAY (I. DEMLER LM FQ ATTORNEY S March 16, 1954 Q DEMLER 2,671,998

APPARATUS FOR PRESSING AND STACKING PACKAGES 0F PLYWOOD AND THE LIKE Filed June 9, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 RAY C. DEMLER ATTORNEYS R. C. DEMLER APPARATUS FOR PRESSING AND STACKING March 16, 1954 PACKAGES OF PLYWOOD AND THE LIKE 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 9, 1952 INVENTORU RAY C. DEMLER ATTORNEYS March 16, 1954 c, DEMLER 2,671,998

APPARATUS FOR RESSING AND STACI{IENG PACKAGES OF PLYWOOD AND THE LI 7 v 7 Sheets-$heet 7 Filed June 9, 1952 Wm. H

II. A M E D C m Patented Mar. 16, 1954 APPane'rc-s sea racssmo. Ase srAcmNo PACKAGE-S F rmrwoon AND; THE LIKE Ray. Demler, Tacoma, Wash -assignor to International Backaging.

Corporation,

Tacoma,

Wash.,. a corporation. of Washington Application June's; 1952, SeriatNo.'292, 569= 19 Claims.

The present invention relates to" apparatusv for handling wrapped packages of sheet material such as plywood and the like.

The" primary objector the present invention is the provision of apparatus for handling fireshly wrapped packages of sheet panels in a eompletelyv autom'atic 'manner, so that the individual packages are received from' a wrapping machine or the like and stacked" in. superimposed. relation,-

with top pressure being applied to the individual packages to take the warpout of the packages, and sidep'res'sure and'heat' being applied to 'insure that. the-freshly wrapped and sealed package.- does not come undone while being stacked.

A still further object istheprovision oi appa-,

ratus for stacking individual packages of sheet. material and discharging the same in stacks. suitable for shipment, allin a-completely automatic. manner.

A still" further object is to provideapparatus for handling freshly wrapped packages of sheet material wherein wax is automatically applied to the'u-pper surfaces oi'the individual packages to'obvi'ate damage to the package's through fricti'onal contact with each otherduring the stacking and subsequent handling. operation, with means being provided-for pressing, heating, stackingand discharging the'p'ackages in predetermined stack'heightsi A further object is toprovide apparatus for handling packages of sheet material weer-emthe sequence oi operations of' pressing, heating, stack ihg and discharging is controlled by means re-* spcnsiveto the movement of the packagesthrouglr. the apparatus. 1

With the foregoing and other objectsin. view, the invention will now bemorerully described with reference to theaccompanyin'g drawings: wherein:

Figure 1 is aside elevation or the apparatus of the present'invention;

-- Figure 2 isa' top plan view;

Figures 3 and 3a constitute-an enlargeddetailed sectional view of the entire rhachin'ea'nd are taken substantially along line 3-3 of Fig- 15562;

Figure 41s a vertical sectional view taken along use-4:401: Figure 3a;

V Figure 5 is a vertical'sectional view taken along lined-+5 or- Figu'reBa Figure; 6 isa horizontal sectional view taken aiong line t li of Figure 1 of the elevator plat:- form the side delivery conveyors:

' Figure 7- is a sectional view substantially along the line 'l.--1- of Figure 6; and illustrates the transfer-mechanism for removing the stack of packages from the elevator; and

Figure 8 is a detail of the switches, motors,

and circuits associated with the apparatus. with 2 the travel path of the package being indicated. by broken line's;

General description of the apparatus The apparatus of the present invention is adapted for use in connection with wrapping machines of the type described and claimed in my c'oepending application. Serial No. 198,711, filed December 1, 1950; It is tov be understood, however, that its applicability is not to be so narrowlylimited, since the apparatus can be used in connection with any wrapping machine, or to re-' ceive previously wrapped packages from a con-*- veyor wherein stacking of. the packagesin predetermined number is desired.

In. the machine of-my co-pending application Serial No. 198,711, a stack ofplywood or other such sheet: material has top. and bottom sheets of wrapping paper applied after which the sides. and ends of the wrapping paper are glued and folded, whereupon the package is discharged. The machine. of the present invention can bemost advantageously employed in connection with such a mechanism; and to accomplishthis end, the hnp'rloved pressandstacker assembly of the present: invention is connected to such a machine by a; series oiupper and lower conveyors to: receive the wrapped. packages and deliver them" toav pair ofspa'ced supporting members, whereupon the package. is dropped to an elevator disposed beneath the supporting rails, whereupon pressure is: applied to theftop of the package. and heat and pressure are applied to the sides and ends, the pressure; and heat being applied to the sides and endsroi thepaekage to insure.- the rapid drying ofthe freshlyglued wrappings. When a predetermined: number of packages has been deposited on the elevator, the'stack of packages is discharged laterally from the elevator, whereupon the elevator returns. to its full up position beneath the: pair of supportingrails, with all the sequence. of operations being controlled by the motion of the packages and the descent of the elevator...

Referring now in more detail to the drawings, 12 generallydesignates the press and stacker assembly of the. present. invention which-is comprised of a series of upstanding channel members |.-4,..transverse' member l fij and longitudinal channel members l8 which constitute" the supporting framework;

When the press and stacker assembly isto be empleyed'in connection with the packaging machine? of uni-pending application, previously referred to, upper and lower endless conveyors :29 and '2-2' of the. type shown in Figure 3 areprefer ably employed; to deliver the wrapped package to-theiront endof the press and stacker assembly 12. additional conveyor roller 24, in conjunction with the smaller rollers generally designated at 26, supports the package in its progress into the press and stacker assembly.

In this arrangement, a wax applying, hollow roller 21 is freely journalled above the moving package at the front end of the stacker to deposit Wax on the upper surface of each package to prevent tearing through frictional contact. The roller 21 is counterweighted as seen at 28, and is filled with a suitable dry wax. The perforation 38 in the periphery of the roller 2? provides a point of egress for the dry wax to be deposited on the upper surface of the moving package P. It will be observed that with this arrangement the perforation 30 is not in position to deposit wax except when the package is in contact with the periphery of the roller 2'! rotating it against the counterweight 28 to produce a complete revolution thereof. According to this arrangement wastage of the dry wax from the storage chamber within roller 2'! is prevented.

As previously indicated, the press and stacker assembly of the present invention may be employed in connection with any type packaging machine or may be used to stack packages in stacks of predetermined number from any source. Figures 1 and 2 show the press and stacker assembly associated with conventional-conveyor rollers 32, 33 and 34 to deliver the packages to the press and stacker I2. However, the conveying mechanism as shown and described in connection with Figure 3 is preferred, since it is desirable to have upper and lower endless conveyors for the package to obviate, insofar as possible, any distortions or warping which inevitably take place Wherever material such as plywood is being handled.

The front end of the package P, after leaving the aforementioned conveyors, enters the press and stacker assembly and is supported by a pair of pivotally mounted rail members 38 and 38 (shown in detail in Figures 4 and Rails 35 and 38 are integral with the side pressure heating pads 40 and 42 to be hereinafter more fully described. Pads 40 and 42, upon which the rails 35 and 38 are mounted, are supported by a series of depending members 44 and 44', which, in turn, are pivotally mounted on each side of the apparatus at 46 and 46 to the transverse channel frame members I6.

Referring to Figure 5, a pair of the members 44 and 44' are shown pivotally connected at their upper ends at 48 and 48' to a pair of connecting arms 50 and 50'. Each of the connecting arms 50 and 50' extends inwardly and is pivotally connected at 52 and 52' to a pair of radially ex tending links 54 and 54' welded or otherwise secured to a rotatable shaft 55 journalled in the bearing blocks 58 mounted medially on the transverse members I6.

Shaft 55 extends between cross members I5 and I6", and is supported by bearing blocks mounted on members I6, l6" and 16", and the above described linkage arrangement is duplicated at these points to insure a simultaneous movement of the pressure heating pads 45 and 42 throughout their length.

The arcuate movement of heat ng pads 42! and 42 through the above described linkage arrangement is achieved by the rotation of the longitudinal shaft 55 by means of radially extending rocker arms 56 welded or otherwise secured at their lower ends to the shaft 55, and pivotally connected at their upper ends to the piston rods 60 extending from a pair of angularly d'sposed air cylinders 59, which are pivotally mounted on the extending medially of the press and stacker assembly. Bumper bar 64 may be adjusted to any position along the channel member l8 by means of the set screw 6'5 (Figures 4 and 6). The channel member I8 runs the full length of the press and stacker assembly, thereby permitting a variety of adjustments so that the apparatus can be employed with packages of considerable variance in length.

Secured to the depending free end of the bumper bar assembly 64 is an end presser plate 68 having the strip heaters 69 secured thereto. The function of this member will be described in more detail in connection with the side presser plates 48 and 42. Side presser plates 40 and 42 are likewise provided with strip heating elements ill, asseen in Figure 1.

As soon as the wrapped package P contacts the bumper bar 54, the rails 35 and 38 supporting the package on each side thereof are displaced laterally by means of the cylinders 59 and associated piston rods 60 which move in response to limit switches on the bumper bar 64 to be subsequently described, permitting the package to drop to the surface of the elevator I2. The elevator I2 is comprised of a bed, constructed from end channel members I33 and longitudinal channel members I35, which is provided with a series of transverse conveyor rollers 14 mounted thereon to facilitate the sidewise discharge of the packages. The elevator assembly I2 is slidably mounted on the upright channel frame members I4 by means of the sliding guides I4 at each end of the elevator assembly (Figure 3a). The elevator is supported by means of chains 16 and 18 which are led around the sprockets 88 and 82, respectively. The free ends of chains I6 and I8 are counterweighted as shown in Figures 3 and 3a at 84 and 86. Sprockets and 82 are driven by means of the chain 88 which extends longitudinally of the machine. Chain 83 drives sprockets mounted on the same shaft supporting the sprockets 80 and 82. Reversible motor 90 is suitably mounted on the rear vertical channel member l4 and by means of a series of reduction sprockets 92, 93 and 94 drives the endless chain 88. A magnetic brake 36 is associated with the reversible motor 50 to insure accurate start and stop control for the elevator assembly 12.

In order to apply pressure to the top of each package to take the warp out of the package as it is being dropped from the supporting rails 36 and 38 to the elevator I2, a pair of top pressure plates 93 and I 08 are provided, as can be seen in Figure 5. Top pressure plates 98 and I00 depend from and are supported by a series of piston rods I02 and I03. Rods I02 and I03 are associated with air cylinders I04 and I04, which are secured to channel members extending above the transversechannel frame members l6- and I6". Piston rods I02 and I03 extend through supporting bushing members I I0 and III), which are secured to the transverse channel members I6 and I6.

\ A front end pressure plate H2 (Figures 2 and 3)" extends transversely the machine; and is. mounted. ona pair oft piston rods I114; asso-c ciated with air cylinders I I6, thesemembersheing mounted on channel members. extending transverselyv of'themachine-at the front end. thereon, Frhe bedcf the elevates .tlis.pravided witha series: of transverse roller conveyors. I4, as pie-- viouslyindicated. Also mounted on. the clevatcl? PM; is a pusher discharge; assembly; -I;I8., as; se n in Ffiguresfiiancl 7.. The pusher bar assemr bly- .lsIcis. comprised of a-pair; of; double, sheaves. I36; and i221 journalled on the free ends: of the member I 24. Pusher bar I25 is; movable; by means of a connecting cable; I28; extendigg; croundsheaues, I20 and I223; and over-the sheaves I29 and. 12s secured to; the-"bed; oi: the; elcyator; 9.12m; cable hi8 led from thesheave. I29: around aturthensheavc Isa jcurnalledztg. oncof. the'cnd channel members lit, constitutingpart of the elevator trams. from whence; it; is. led around hea-x1e; I 32; mounted; on; the free end-.of piston flushown in. dotted lines inits.extendedipcsition: Essie-17.. Eroin sha .vc.- i32 the; cablc; I 28. is hid-t0.- its point? of: tta hment I 31. on the. channel ii me member I125. to which thclsheave. I311: s scc scdh other fresacndof: cable: its, iSgled. o en-shea e. I;.. nd aroundithedouble; sheave i321mw tcdcnn ston I34 to; a point f: attac 0. one of: the. elevatorbed; chan el v ....cs of; t ansv rse: r ller'convcyors 4.33 s-i sat -shame It-9simi1artc the o e v t d ndnvhichis ri idly m u ted to th .100 i the ro m; o the; area w ere n: the. app ratus. t

t its. lowermo t p t n, the-two e s. of. rollcs onvcvo s 4 and 38 form a continuous conveying means, a s :-shown .in figs- Moeiaof; ope at on down (cycle of" the stacker elevator 12- in one of F its. circuits. When the stacker elevator- 12 is empty, .manualcontrol switch MS -is offand the down circuit cut so that the elevatou will remain .in=.the-totalsupposition to receive the: fi'rstpackage. As; the package R contacts bumper bar assembly-6'4, limit switches I40 and' I42 mounted thereon-arealso'contacted by thepackage. Limit s chlfl isnormally open and,- upon beingcongtactedbyathe package; the circui-t is completed to the solenoid air valves I44, I45 and I46. solenoid. air valve I 44 controls the air pressure to fair cylinders 5a; and upon completion of the cir nuit-athe valves-admit airunderpressure-t'o these cylinders, whereuponthe pistons '60 are retracted into. cylinders 5'9- to pivot rocker armsBIi', and :the .associated rails 36 and 38 to the position shown in Figure 5; thereby permitting the pack- *agesto drop down uponthe "rollers- I4 'of the elevator assembly I2. Atthe-same time the rails 3,6i fl areilatenallypivoted; the circuit to-solenoid n sch-a p siti n'that The air valuev 1 45: is completed throughli-miti snatch I46. Solenoid air valve I45 controlsrtheairpnesa sure to thecylinders Hi4. and; I194" whichcontrol the movement'ot the top presser-'- bars as, :me by means. of the pistons I02; I03. Thenormal posi-i tion' of the-top presses bars is-up and outof cons tact-with the packagabutupon actuation cfalimlt switch 140, solenoid air valvev MT; delivers ah!- undor pressure; toethe cylinders I-II'A, causing 1313-! tons Hi2, ikcfiato descend; so. as Ito-contact: theatop edges of the-"package the presser; bars. :18 and mo. Thepurpose of the top. presserplatcs; 93 1110;, aszpreyiousiy stated, to. take-the warp cut/of theiwitapped package, so thatstacks me; can bezeffiecteti.

Simultaneously with the completion of; the citeuits tosolenoid;.airvalves I44 and I425 through limit. switch I40, the; circuit is completed to solenoidiair valve: I:4'B. which. controls the: do liizcry. of airto the; cylinders lIG. Upon actuaa tion' of the limit: switch Mil therefor, aisis as, livereda to: thercylinders; I re: so asto. retract-piss. tons ILIA. and the associated front presser: has II Z; Simultaneously with the actuation of solo mict valves I44; I45 and I46; limit switch l t-'25 is reversed bycontact with. the. front. end of the package; Manual control. switch. I48 is movcdrto the on position as soon as the first. package is deposited onzth'e elevator; Thiscone trol switch remains in the on" position for all succeedingpackagesof the same size: Switch I418; completes a circuit to: the. reversible motor 90, and the elevator is-loweredunti'l thotop'sunface. of. the package vP clears limit switches-s40 and M2: which, it will be-observed; constitutes the. depth of one package. Upon clearing limit switches: I410 and I42, limit switch III-2 isreset breaking. the circuit tothe motor '90; Byameans of magnetic; brake 9I'elevator 1.2 is instantaneously stopped after dropping-the depth of one package... During-the descentof the elevator-top messesbarsssrand I00. are-in contactwith the upper side edges of' the top; package with force greater;- than the. speed; of the. descent-' of the-- to be.,-tretracted firomcontact with theapackage;

and, the& side. presserplates. All; and 42- to be swung into contact with the sides :ofthepackage which, has just been deposited; on; the elevator and leaving; the, guide: rails in: position. to re.-: ceivefthe' next; succeeding. package while pressure is being exerted on. thesidcs'ofthe uppermost packag by: means." of. the. pads 40 and-42 as shown in-Fig; 4;.

At the-same time, front. enda presser ban-III isthrufit outwardly into" contact with thefront end of the package, forcing-- the package against the rear presser. bar. 68 which -isr-integralwith the bumper bar assembly 64. Front presser bar II2, the rear presser bar 68, and side presser plates. 40 andscz;aresall provided with strip-heaters to insure, proper sealing of -the paclhagc in cases-where itziSllBCBiVGd directly from a wrapping machine; These members supply-heat to the sides and ends ofthe package until the rot lowing package is received on the rails 3fiand 38 and strikes thelimitsw'itches I66 and I42; after which the above described cycle of: operations is repeated, with the' elevator dropping the depth 7 of one package as each succeeding package is received thereon.

When the stacker elevator has a complete load of packages, and is one half the depth of a package from its total down position, cam surface I53 on the side of the elevator drive chain 88 (the chain synchronizes the front and back end shafts) closes limit switch I52. The arm II of limit switch I52 is raised by the cam surface. I53. As the next package passes through the conveyors leading to the stacker and presser, the limit switch I54 is closed, and the elevator down circuit through limit switch I52 is completed so that the elevator moves to total down position, leaving the topmost package in the press.

.When the elevator descends to the one-half package position above total down, the bottom of the lower package on the elevator opens limit switch I56 in the elevator up circuit. As the elevator reaches total down position as described in the preceding paragraph, a lug I58 on the top of the elevator chain changes limit switch I60 from the down circuit to the up circuit. However, the elevator up circuit is not completed,

since limit switch I62 in the up circuit is open while the stack of packages moves out of the left side of the elevator. When the stack of packages has passed over limit switches I56 and IE2, the elevator drive up circuit is completed and 1 the elevator rises until the lug I55 on the top of the elevator chain changes the circuit from up to down in limit switch I60.

As previously described, a pusher bar assembly H8 is mounted on the floor of the elevator bed between the conveyors I4. As the elevator comes to rest at its total down position, solenoid air valve I64 is energized by limit switch I56 which is contacted by the lowermost package when the elevator is in its complete down position. The energizing of solenoid valve I64 admits air to'the air cylinder I3I mounted on the elevator bed. The piston I34 with double sheave I32 on its free end is extended, and by means of the cable arrangement previously described, pusher bar I26 1 is moved transversely across the elevator platform transporting the stack of packages to the side delivery conveyors I33 located in a common plane with the elevator platform when the elevator is in its complete down position. As soon as the up circuit is completed, and the elevator rises from contact with limit switch I65, the pusher bar assembly is returned to its retracted position at the side of the elevator platform.

While the machine of the present invention is particularly adapted for operation in connection with a wrapping machine as described in my copending application Serial No. 198,711, it is, of course, capable of operating satisfactorily wherein the wrapped packages are delivered in any manner. It is to be understood that such variations in the machine herein shown and described as within the skill of a mechanic may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for stacking wrapped packages of sheet material such as plywood and the like comprising an elevator to receive said packages in superimposed relation, drive means for said elevator, means for applying top pressure to said packages after being received on said elevator, bars mounted for inward movement toward the packages for applying pressure to the sides and ends of said packages on said elevator and means for discharging the stack of packages when a predetermined number of packages has been received on said elevator.

2. Apparatus for pressing and stacking wrapped packages of sheet material such as plywood and the like comprising an elevator, drive means for said elevator, means for delivering the packages of sheet material to said elevator, means responsive to the movement of the packages into and out of said elevator to control the rate or descent and the return of said elevator to its total up position, bars mounted for inward movement toward the packages to apply heat and pressure on said package at the time of its deposition on said elevator, said bars acting in response to control means in the path of said package.

3. A press and stacker assembly for handling wrapped packages of sheet material comprising an elevator for receiving said packages from a wrapping machine or the like, means for delivering said packages to said elevator, means responsive to the movement of said packages for lowering said elevator the depth of one package as each succeeding package is delivered to said elevator, means responsive to the movement of said packages for delivering pressure to the top edges of each of said packages as said package is deposited on said elevator and lowered the depth of one package, bars mounted for inward movement toward the packages for applying side and end pressure and heat to said package while on said elevator, whereby proper sealing of the freshly wrapped package is insured.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the application of pressure and heat to the sides and ends of said package is responsive to control means in the path of said package as it is moved into said apparatus.

5. A press and stacker assembly for handling wrapped packages of sheet material such as plywood and the like comprising an elevator for receiving said packages in superimposed relation, a pair of receiving rails disposed above said elevator conveyors to deliver said packages to said receiving rails, side and end pressure bars responsive to limit switches in the path of said packages, top pressure applying members normally out of contact with said package but movable into contact with the upper surface of said package as said elevator is lowered to receive an additional package from said receiving rails.

6. A press and stacker assembly for pressing and stacking wrapped packages of sheet material, comprising a pair of parallel package receiving and supporting rails, means for delivering said packages to said rails, means for stopping the forward motion of said package on said rails, a conveyor-elevator disposed beneath said rails, means for laterally displacing said rails when the forward motion of said package is stopped whereby said package is permitted to drop down upon said elevator, means for lowering said elevator the depth of one package after said package drops down upon said elevator, means for applying pressure to the top edges of the upper package on said elevator as said elevator is being lowered, and means for laterally discharging the stack of packages from said elevator upon said elevator reaching its lowermost level.

'7. A press and stacker assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein said package receiving rails are integra1 and movable with a pair of side presser bars, said presser bars having a plurality of strip heaters disposed thereon.

8. A press and stacker assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein a series of limit switches are disposed in the path of said moving package to control the movement of said rails, said elevator, and said top pressure applying means.

9. A press and stacker assembly as claimed in claim 6 which includes end pressure applying bars having a series of strip heaters disposed thereon.

10. A press and stacker assembly for handling wrapped packages of sheet material comprising means for individually receiving said packages, an elevator to receive said packages from said receiving mean in superimposed relation, lowering means for said elevator, and means for discharging said packages from said elevator when a predetermined number of packages has been deposited thereon, means for simultaneously applying heat and pressure to the sides and ends of each of said packages from end to end thereof prior to its being discharged from said elevator, means for returning said elevator to its raised position upon discharge of said packages.

11. A press and stacker assembly for handling wrapped packages of sheet material comprising a pair of spaced supporting members to individually receive the wrapped packages, upper and lower conveyors to deliver said wrapped package to said supporting members, a wax dispenser mounted above said moving wrapped package so .as to deliverpowdered wax to the upper surface thereof, a bumper bar assembly de-limiting the forward motion of said package on said supporting members, an elevator having a series of transverse conveyors on the upper surface thereof, drive means for said elevator, means for displacing said supporting members from beneath said package permitting said package to drop to said elevator, means for lowering said elevator the depth of one package upon said package being deposited thereon, top pressure applying means mounted above said package, means for moving said top pressure means into contact with the upper edges of said package as said elevator is descending, e, pusher element mounted on said elevator in position to contact the lowermost package on said elevator and transfer the stack of packages on said elevator to a set of receiving rollers on a level with said elevator when said elevator is fully descended.

12. A press and stacker assembly as claimed in claim 11 wherein said pair of spaced supporting members comprise parallel rails integral with a pair of side presser plates, with said rails and presser plates being so dimensioned to permit the reception of a package on said supporting rails while said presser plates are applying pressure to the sides of the uppermost package on said elevator.

13. A press and stacker assembly as claimed in claim 11 wherein said wax dispenser comprises a hollow, freely rotatable, counterweighted roll having at least one perforation in its outer periphery at a point spaced from said counterweight, with said roller being rotated by means or frictional contact with the upper surface of the moving package being delivered to said press and stacker.

14. A press and stacker assembly as claimed in claim 11 wherein said bumper bar assembly is adjustably mounted whereby the length of package which may be handled can be varied.

15. A press and stacker assembly as claimed in claim 11 wherein said rails are integral with a pair of side presser plates, pivotally mounted members supporting said rails and presser plates. a series of link members pivotally connecting the free ends of said supporting members to opposite ends of a first series of rotatably mounted rocker arms, a rotatable shaft to which said rocker arms are secured, a second series of rocker arms extending above said first series, air cylinders pivotally mounted on said assembly and having their associated piston rods pivotally connected to the free ends of said second series of rocker arms whereby said rails and presser plates may be laterally displaced upon actuation of said pistons.

16. A press and stacker assembly as claimed in claim 11 having end pressure plates for said package and side pressure plates, said pressure plates acting to exert pressure on the sides of said package upon being dropped to said elevator, means for applying heat to the sides and ends of said package while pressure is applied by said pressure plates.

17. A press and stacker assembly for handling wrapped packages of sheet material and the like comprising a series of upper and lower spaced conveyors to receive said packages from a wrapping machine or the like, means for applying wax to the upper surface of said packages while passing through said conveyors, a pair of pivotally mounted spaced rail members to receive said package from said conveyors, an elevator assembly disposed beneath said rails, drive means for said elevator responsive to the movement of said package, means responsive to the movement of said package on said rails to pivot said rails away from said package permitting said package to drop down onto said elevator, means actuated by the movement of said package for lowering said elevator the depth of one package as said package if deposited thereon, top pressure bars mounted above said elevator, means actuated by the movement of said package for extending said top pressure bars into contact with the upper surface of said package as said elevator is descending the depth of one package, side and end pressure plates movable into contact with the sides and ends of said package in response to the movement of said package from said rails to said elevator, a pusher bar assembly actuated by means responsive to the movement of said elevator and the packages thereon to discharge said packages from said elevator when a predetermined number has been stacked thereon.

18. A press and stacker assembly as claimed in claim 17 wherein said rails and top and side presser bar actuating means comprise air pistons and cylinders, with the air supply to said cylinders being controlled by solenoid valves responsive to limit switches positioned so as to have proper sequential contact with the moving package.

19. A press and stacker assembly as claimed in claim 1'7 wherein said pusher bar assembly is actuated by an air cylinder and piston with a solenoid air valve controlling the delivery of air to said cylinder, and a series of limit switches movable by contact with said elevator assembly and the packages stacked thereon to control said solenoid air valves.

RAY C. DEMLER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,123,606 Smith Jan. 5, 1915 1,985,832 Kneadskern Dec. 25, 1934 2,133,503 Ferenci Oct. 18, 1938 2,215,545 Demler Sept. 24, 1940 

